General Description

Body about 4 times as long as wide, smooth, head only slightly narrower than pereonite 1, body more or less parallel-sided. Pleotelson tapering, apex strongly excavate, posterolateral corners acute; pleotelsonic formula 1 + 2. Body up to 4.5 cm long.

Biology

Paridotea ungulata is the type species of the genus and the only species of Paridotea found on all southern continents. This species belongs to one of the few families of herbivorous isopods. They can camouflage themselves according to the colour of the marine algae in which they live.

Distribution

New Zealand, Solomon Islands, South Africa and Australia.

Habitat

On reef platform and intertidal rock pools, to depths of 1 m.

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